Test run

Last night, after work, a quick run to the supermarket and then picking up Susannah, I embarked on an epicurian adventure that led to smoke alarmage and enough leftovers to take a meal to the neighbors.
I had read a while ago in last year's Rachel Ray November edition mag about cooking a Thanksgiving dinner in about an hour. It's a timeline for preparing three sides, a turkey and a desert.
Last night, I made it through everything but the desert. We instead had a purchased Paula Deen apple pie (I know- there goes my chef's hat.)
All in all, the meal was a success and a new way to try some of our favorite parts of Thanksgiving meal. The green bean casserole was different, but good (even to Galon, who adores the mushroom-soup-fried-onion variety.)
The turkey was a 7 lb organic breast (hee hee) because I couldn't find the cuts the recipe calls for, but it was amazing how the lemon adds to the moistness and led to a lovely crisp skin/crust.
The potatoes were lovely and savory due to the sweet potatoe add-in and, for a family who is anti-stuffing, this version was amazing. Apples, dates, pecans and scallions added to the flavor and moistness of store bought stuffing mix.
The desert is a pumkin trifle that I plan on saving until "real" Thanksgiving to add to my family's fare.
This afternoon, the plan is to make these crafts with Susannah to mail to the lovey's in our life. She's excited to use both a glue stick and the googley eyes.
We'll try to post photos soon and wish you and yours a lovely holiday with family and friends.

will I look smarter?

Well, it's official. I started a partime gig at the local library this week and feel no smarter as yet. Certainly imagine I don't appear any smarter as I'm wading through the data entry and catalog systems, waiting for familiarity to rescue me.
Seems as if organizing, words and research are right up my alley. Who woulda thunk it, eh? hee hee.
The ladies there, in varying ages, are all very welcoming and well-read. I even get to push one of those carts around and get the books from the night drop box! Score!
Finally, the hours are very family friendly and Susannah is happy to have a reason to abandon me for the fun-filled environment of Nee-Nanny at least twice a week.
I'll be working two evenings, 2:30-8:30 p.m., and one morning, 8:30 to 2:30 p.m. a week. Galon thinks he can get home early enough one of the evening shifts to keep Susannah from having to go to daycare for all of three hours.
Already I'm amazed at how many folks try to get away with loaning, printing or copying without their library cards and/or expect the poor girl behind the counter to regonize who they are and pull the books they had on hold.
Hoping to get there-
the funny thing so far is since this is a small community, many of the faces I knew from working at the paper frequent the stacks and are mildly confused when they see me behind the desk.
One nice older lady even asked if I was doing an undercover story. At the library. Oofda.

Turning two

A photo essay of sorts about Susannah's second birthday and party:


One of the youngest attendees enjoying herself on a crawl towards the pinata. Entertainment included facepainting, bobbing for doughnuts (big hit, thanks Anna!) and glow stick jewelry.


Party group chilaxing in the backyard. Notice grandparents, including my dad donning a painter's suit/white bunny outfit, on the perimeter. Atmosphere was haybale seating, carved pumpkin and candle lighting and tons of sweets (along with warm cheese pizza.)


Opening grandparents' and mommy and daddy presents after the party. Big hits were baby dolls and horses, go figure. Susannah was dressed as a kitty cat, but by this point her ears had gone akimbo.


The day after the sugar high of '09 and enjoying time with books from Uncle Ev and Auntie Katherine. She kept doing this intense smile (displaying neck tendons) and trembling all over with excitment throughout the night. Should be an entertaining Christmas, but all the more difficult to teach the true meanings of the season.